Serving Home Needs

MODERN homes in most countries are increasingly full of household electronics.
Despite the innovative nature and increasing sophistication of these products,
this proliferation can be attributed to lower manufacturing costs. Hong Kong
suppliers with factories on the Chinese mainland make products specifically
for this fast-growing segment of the consumer market.

Prices depend on such factors as quantity, approvals and cord or plug types,
Ng says. Shipment is about 45 days after order confirmation. Wang Chun's main
markets are in Europe (notably Germany and Italy), the US, Japan and New Zealand.

Twenty-seven-year-old Anex Electrical listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
in 1991 and three years later secured ISO 9001 certification. Plastics and other
raw materials arrive at its 1,800-worker factory in Dongguan on the Chinese
mainland from throughout the mainland and South Korea.

Anex sells mainly to Western Europe, the US and Southeast Asia. Prices depend
on the product type, model and order details. Minimum order is 3,000 pieces
for private labels (1,000 pieces for standard models) for shipment 45 days after
order confirmation.

"We offer a wide range of ODM products - about 300 models - from which
customers can select. Every year we launch about 10 new models to increase our
range," Kwok says.

"The designs are innovative and unique because we have a strong research
and development department in both Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland. OEM
projects are a major part of our business too. We also have our own tooling
shop, so we can provide a full-service portfolio to customers," Kwok adds.

Ginfax Development Ltd produces household optical items like cameras and scopes,
along with electronics-cum-electrical items like ozone air purifiers, mini-dehumidifiers
and wine-bottle coolers/warmers, all on an OEM or ODM basis.

Established in 1990, Ginfax is ISO 9001-certified, maintains offices in Hong
Kong and Shenzhen and operates two factories in Guangdong. Monthly production
capacity exceeds two million units.

Plastics, metals and other raw materials come from the Chinese mainland. Clients
in the US, Europe and Japan buy the finished products.

"Order size can vary depending on products and specifications. We can ship
45-60 days after order confirmation," says marketing executive Christine
Tang.

This 13-year-old company employs 2,000 workers at its factory in Dongguan on
the Chinese mainland. The factory's daily production capacity is 20,000 units.
Raw materials like ABS and sheet metal come from South Korea, Taiwan and the
mainland, says marketing director John Lai.

Housely's products often display Housely's Regent brand and cost US$20-200 FOB
Hong Kong, depending on the item, model and specifications. For a single model,
the minimum order is one FEU for shipment within 45 days after receiving a letter
of credit.

Housely Industries has ISO 9002 certification and serves a strong customer base
in Europe and the US.

Solid Support

Computer Peripherals

Promedia Int'l Ltd's
"semi-professional" multi-target CD-R duplicator can serve both
IT and specialized business applications.

GADGETS to enhance or extend the capabilities of computers are widely used
and increasingly regarded as essential equipment. Getting things right in creating
these products requires high technology, rapid reaction and an exceptional understanding
of economic cycles. Such attributes are routine among Hong Kong-based suppliers,
who enthusiastically pursue a growing market for computer peripherals.

Along with stylish appearances, the company's three-piece speaker sets have
a powerful sub-woofer system offering bass and volume controls. They cost US$46.21
FOB Hong Kong per set and can be shipped within four weeks of order confirmation.

Products from seven-year-old SMC Multi-Media bear the SMC brand or brands from
OEM customers. At the company's 1,000-worker factory in Shunde on the Chinese
mainland, total monthly production is about 60,000 units. Minimum order is one
FEU. The main markets are Europe and the US.

Deputy managing director Hanifah Law is upbeat. "Our marketing has gone
very well recently. We have achieved some 50% of turnover and production going
into our own-label business and about 50% into OEM contracts," she says.

"The reasons for our success are high product quality and high production
quality. Reaching such a high standard of sound with any technical format other
than flat-panel speakers is not easy. In our factory, we produce extremely high-quality
products," Law adds.

Yuen Fook Industrial Co Ltd makes karaoke mixers and other audio/video products,
including multimedia speakers. For speakers, the minimum order is 5,000 pairs.
The price is about US$60 FOB Hong Kong per set for shipment 30-45 days after
order confirmation.

"Manufacturers can add our multimedia speakers to their own computer ranges.
We offer all technical design services and support customers' own design initiatives,"
says marketing executive Tam Ho-fan.

The company sells to customers in Europe, the US and Asia. It supplies its 100-worker
factory in Guangdong Province on the Chinese mainland with ICs, plastic or metal
cases and electronic components from Japan and Hong Kong. Mainly an OEM supplier,
Yuen Fook aims its products at mid-range consumers.

Microdia Int'l Ltd offers such technical products as data-storage media items,
as well as communications, networking and multimedia peripherals.

Founded in 1992, the company has no specific minimum-order requirements and
usually ships within two weeks of order confirmation. Branded Microdia, its
products sell in Europe, the US and Asia, including the Chinese mainland.

Microdia employs 1,600 people and has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan,
the UK, the US and on the Chinese mainland. Its processes and factories have
ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certification. The components come from Japan, South Korea
and the US.

Executive director Louis Leung says technical design is different from artistic
design. "We develop leading-edge products by meeting customers and taking
the industry's pulse. What happens next is important. We take our customers'
requirements and focus up to two years forward on their future needs,"
he says.

"This philosophy does work. We were very early with recordable CDs, and
we intend to be a large player in the upcoming massive recordable-DVD and flash-memory
markets," he adds.

The company provides 24x7 product support so its distribution and retail customers
can focus on sales and marketing.

"This is a semi-professional device. With capacity to make five copies
from a single target source, such as a CD, it is suitable for IT people,"
says general manager Sharon Mark.

"The plug-and-play SCSI functionality means it may also suit photo-shop
retailers and other businesses," she adds.

Ten-year-old Promedia's 400-strong workforce on the Chinese mainland makes 200
duplicators monthly. Major markets are the US, Germany, South Korea, Thailand,
Canada and Scandinavia. There is no minimum order and shipment can be made within
three days of order confirmation.

Enhanced Calls

ALL incoming messages indicate good news for traders sourcing telephone accessories.
Hong Kong suppliers are conducting extensive in-house research and development,
studying new digital technology and working closely with brand-name original-equipment
manufacturers on modern styles and designs. The result is a wide range of attractive,
competitively priced products.

A best seller in this range is model AB2100 featuring caller-ID, a calendar
with day-date-time, a phone-book-record function and a jumbo-sized LCD. Available
in a strong ABS body with a full range of colour options, this product measures
110x45x195mm.

Established more than 25 years ago, Automatic Mfg Ltd devoted two decades to
medical, home and office automation products before investing heavily in telecoms
about four years ago.

"We concentrated on using digital and wireless technology to obtain a clear
market niche. That allowed us to offer such hands-free and remote wireless applications
as ringers and announcers for use with cell phones or regular duplex phones,"
says deputy marketing manager Simon Wong.

Intriguing model VA-096 offers pre-recorded voice announcements and displays
of incoming calls. With this unit, users can pre-record voice messages and,
on receiving a call, the device will play back messages like "Joe is calling
from the office" or "Honey, it's me, please call me".

Other features include multifunction LED indicators for new call and message
waiting, dial-back, low-battery indicator, adjustable volume control and multilingual
displays. Operating from AC or four AA batteries, the model meets UL, FCC, CE,
TBR21 and other international standards.

Prices are US$11-18 FOB Hong Kong. Minimum order is 3,000 units. Shipment is
usually 60 days after order receipt.

Sino Spark provides products for offices and homes. "Our latest model,
TE-2002, is for office use and provides hands-free telephony combined with a
multimedia amplifier. Operators can easily switch between a PC and telephone
or between a headset and handset."

Operated by two AA batteries or an optional DC-6V adaptor, the TE-2002 sells
for about US$12 FOB Hong Kong. It is popular in the US.

"For Europe and Japan we sell more of the UM-04 hands-free telephone headsets.
This model connects in parallel with a regular telephone and features an in-use
LED indicator, a single-ear over-the-head headset, a flexible microphone arm
and an adjustable headband. It sells for about US$5.80 FOB Hong Kong,"
says Yu.

Other accessories include a telephone auto switch, a telephone ringer and a
telephone lock capable of blocking or restricting incoming or outgoing calls.
There is also a complete line of integrated telephones. Minimum order is 2,000
per item for shipment 45 days following order confirmation.

Another leading player is Primatronix Ltd, established almost 20 years ago to
design and produce high-quality creative analogue and digital telephones and
accessories.

"Among our long-term customers are telecoms companies and OEMs in the US,
Canada, Europe and Australia. Our quality-control system is certified and constantly
updated to ISO 9001 standards. We conduct our own R&D to ensure originality
and competitive prices," says manager Simon Lee.

The TAD3803 can personalize messages for up to 10 callers, has integrated caller-ID
information with incoming voice messages and a digital telephone answering machine
with recording time of up to 40 minutes.

This model sells for about US$23 FOB Hong Kong. Minimum order is 2,000 sets
for shipment after 90 days.

Primatronix also makes VoIP USB telephones. "As VoIP gains popularity,
our in-house models provide several major clients with the best format - easy
plug and play and 100% digital clarity. With worldwide Internet interest this
should be a strong market," says Lee.

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